Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009 was a great year for our family. It was filled with many fun adventures. We had a successful garden, started raising chickens and we raised two pigs. We finally caught up with the rest of the world and got the Internet and through this, I've been able to reconnect with so many old friends. The kids started school and started loosing teeth. We enjoyed many visits from family and friends this year and we welcomed new nieces, nephews and Aunt Calli into the family. As I look back on all of the blessings we received in 2009 I am truly grateful to My Heavenly Father, he guides and blesses us daily. We're looking foreword to another great year filled with new and exciting adventures!

Monday, December 28, 2009

We all had a wonderful, relaxing Christmas at home. We're a little sad that it's over. We hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas too!Being the president of his own bike riding club, Caleb really needed a bike upgrade. He was so thrilled to get a bike with " shocks and gears"! Sarah asked Santa for a surprise. I guess he knows how much she loves Cinderella. Her dress was home..er..Elf made out of a $2.00 formal found at a thrift store. She absolutely loved it. Eliza specifically told Santa that she did not want Pretty presents, she only wanted cool stuff. Wish granted! She also got Bakugans, which she's been wanting for a while now.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Every year Taylor Elementary Puts together a Christmas program. Yes, that's right CHRISTMAS! Not a "winter" program, or even a "holiday" program. It's all about Christmas, complete with Away in A Manger, and Silent Night. LOVE IT ! The kids all did a wonderful job. My kids love the spotlight and they sang loud and proud.My only regret is that I didn't get any good pictures of the actual performance. I was helping the teachers get costumes on the kids in their classroom so by the time I got into the auditorium,the only seats available were way in the back. :( I did get some good pictures of the kids before the program so they'll have to suffice.

Don't they look great? After looking in the mirror Sarah shook her curls and said " I think today's the day I'm going to ask Tillison to marry me."(Tillison is a cute little boy that Sarah's had her eye on for a while.) I told her she should probably wait at least a few more years, before she pops the question. Caleb's class sang "Here comes Suzi Snowflake." The girls sang "Sweet Angie the Christmas Tree Angel."

Sunday, December 13, 2009

The Trio turned six yesterday, and we celebrated with a party! This was the first birthday party that the kids have ever had. (Besides family parties of course) I haven't thrown a party for them in the past because I feel that lately birthday party's have gotten so extreme, and over the top with themes, mega cakes and "goody bags". I think they are indulgent, and contests to see who can spoil their kids the most. I don't like the idea of a kid getting so many presents that they don't appreciate and take care of any of them. So for those reasons combined with with the fact that my kids Birthday falls in the middle of December,(the busiest month of the year...) we've always taken the money we would have spent on a party to get each of the kids one or two nice gifts and then do something really fun together as a family. (I'm pretty sure that little b-day tirade of mine probably cost my kids a few party invitations ...sorry guys. Please don't hold my kids responsible for their mother's issues. :) )What I didn't count on , in my quest to shelter my kids from the evils' of birthday parties was that once they started school and made friends, that they would be invited to these spoil fests. ( I knew I should have home schooled !) After attending a few of these parties, they've started to question the way we have always handled birthdays at our house. The questions are laced with underlying tones regarding their mother's lack of love and concern for her children. Don't they deserve a birthday party, is there something terribly wrong with them that makes them so undeserving of celebrating their birthday party with their closest 50 friends. I wasn't surprised that when I asked the kids what they would like to do for their birthday they all said that they wanted a party. So what's a mom to do? I laid down some ground rules for the party. First of all, there would not be a theme. That's right, no Hannah Montana, Spider Man, H.S. Musical or Clifford. Second, they could each only invite two friends. I know I'm so cruel, but two multiplied by three is six. Add that to the three of them and you get nine kids. That is plenty of kids to make an official party.Third rule..the party would be held here in our own home, not the local pizza place, bowling alley, or town social hall. They would also be responsible for coming up with their own entertainment and activities. I would not be hiring a clown, a band, a magician, acrobats, nine ladys' dancing or ten lords a leaping. And finally the last rule, The Ace of cakes would be me. A homemade cake for a homemade Birthday party.Get it... Got it... Good.The kids each chose the two friends they wanted to invite and it turns out everyone in their primary class got invited. That worked out nicely. They decided that their guests would each get to make their own individual pizza for lunch and while the pizzas' were baking they would play Jenga, and Duck Duck goose, and "just play". After lunch we'd have cake and ice cream, and last but not least they'd get to open presents. I spent a grand total of ten dollars at the dollar store on plates, cups, Balloons, and yes... "goodie bags". I spent another fifteen dollars at Bashas for Rohdes rolls ( makes perfect individual pizza crusts) cheese, sauce, pepperoni, ice cream, and soda pop. I already had a cake mix and frosting so the entire party cost twenty five dollars. I have to admit it was a lot cheaper than I thought it would be.The party went just as planned. Everyone had a wonderful time and Eliza said that I'm "the best birthday mom ever !"So I guess Birthday Partys' aren't all that bad. The kids know not to expect one every year and I know that we can have a party once in a while and it won't corrupt my children.

This time of year is full of traditions for our family. One tradition we have is decorating a gingerbread house. It makes a fun F.H.E. activity, and a cute Christmas centerpiece for our table. Other traditions we have are: Making a Christmas countdown chain, Baking goodies for our friends and neighbors, and Watching Polar Express on Christmas Eve. I love this time of year...don't we all...I love that it brings us closer together as a family and it brings us closer to our Savior.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

We decorated our Christmas tree on Saturday. Before we got started; I built a fire in the fireplace and I put a Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas CD in the CD player. Once the setting was perfect, we started setting up and decorating the tree. I'm usually a bit of a Christmas Nazi, meaning I want everything done my way. But, this year I did pretty good at letting the kids decorate their way. (I only vetoed a few things. I also moved a few ornaments when their backs were turned...Is that bad?) The important thing is that we were all happy with how the tree turned out.Beautiful!

Gurr Family Dictionary

Those of you who have spent time with our family may have noticed that at times, we seem to have a language of our own. I thought it would be helpful to let you know what some of our favorite words and phrases mean to us.

Adgita (ad-je-tu) n. The feeling of being annoyed, or having heartburn, or indigestion. "Honey, I ate to much chili-dog-Pie, and it gave me adgita."

Buggy (bug'i)n. Any off road vehicle used solely for recreational purposes. Also known as ATV's. "Dad will you take us for a buggy ride on the Ranger ?"

Chokev. This is what the kids call throwing up. " I'm feelling sick. I think I am going to choke."

Choncho (chon-choe) n. A small town in northeastern AZ. the town is actually called Concho, but it reminds us of the town in the movie "Nacho Libre". So, we named it after a character in the movie... Choncho. "Man, If I had a double wide in Choncho, and one in Hell. I'd rent out the one in Choncho, and live in Hell.

Gee-on-out-o-here!adv. An expression directed at dogs. Adam loves shouting this phrase at dogs. He does it just so he can sound like a red neck. It's actually quite hillarious when he says it.

Grandma Milkn. Chocolate milk. While we never have chocolate milk in our home, Grandma Quist seems to have it on tap. "Mom, how come you never give us Grandma Milk?"

"Becauase I'm not Grandma that's why."

Janice bowln. an extremly large plastic bowl. It can be used for just about anything from bathing babies to holding a giant batch of popcorn. Every year Ruth's Aunt Janice gives us one for Christmas. "I need a Janice bowl, I'm about to choke."

Jonny-Big-Rig (jon-E-big-rig) n. any abnormaly large object or person. "Adam, you shouldn't call that lady a Jonny-Big-Rig. It's offensive!"

Junky Momma !adv. This term originated several years ago in the Quist household. It is an expression of extreme excitement. "After opening a box of lego's on his sixth birthday Russ was so overjoyed, that he yelled "Junky Momma!"

Popawheelie (pop-a-weel 'i) v. Making the front tire of your bike lift up off of the ground."Mom! Watch me popawheelie !" n. The name of Caleb's bike riding club. "Mom, I have new club called the popawheelie club, and I am the President."

Quit it Out !adv. An expression that means stop. One day Adam either meant to say "quit it" or "cut it out." The result was "Quit it out !" Now we say it all the time. "You better quit it out or you will be going to your room young lady!"

Sledn. a snowmobile." Kids,. its snowing ! Call Grandpa and ask him to bring up his sleds so we can go on a sweet ride."

Tempern. The kids way of saying temperature." Mom I dont feel good. You should check my temper."

About Us

Adam and I met way back in the second grade. Sixteen Years later we went on our first date,and within four months we were married. Adam is everything a husband and father should be. I consider myself truly blessed that he's mine for eternity. Two years after we were married I became pregnant with triplets. Eliza, Sarah, and Caleb joined our family in Dec. of 03. They are our miracles and we thank our Heavenly Father every day for sending them to us.
Adam spends his days as a General Contractor,operating grading and excavating equipment. I get to be a homemaker and raise our trio as a "stay at home mom". When Adam and I were kids, he loved playing in the sandbox with his toy trucks and tractors. I loved playing house with all of my baby dolls. I guess we're both living out our childhood dreams.
We love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It brings our family so much happiness. And that's why.. "We are a Happy Family."